Rhode Island General Laws Title 11. Criminal Offenses § 11-65-2. Unlawful operation of a recording device

(a) Any person who knowingly operates the audiovisual recording function of any device in a motion picture theater, while a motion picture is being exhibited with the intention of recording the movie or picture being played, and without the consent of the motion picture theater owner, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) A person found guilty of the crime of unlawful operation of a recording device shall be imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the operation of an audiovisual recording function of a device by any authorized employee or agent of a local, state or federal law enforcement agency while such employee or agent is engaged in authorized investigative, protective, law enforcement or intelligence gathering activities.

(d) Nothing in this section shall preclude prosecution of a person under any other provision of the general statutes.

(e) Any person reasonably believed to have committed or to be committing the crime of unlawful operation of a recording device as defined in § 11-65-2 shall be subject to detention by a police officer in accordance with § 12-7-1.